News

Poll finds support for Belmont-Redwood Shores School District bond measure

By Bonnie Eslinger

Daily News Staff Writer

Posted:
07/07/2014 09:06:52 PM PDT

Updated:
07/08/2014 12:21:05 AM PDT

If the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District wants voters to approve a $40 million bond to expand and improve facilities, November would be a safe bet, according to consultants hired by the district.

The district's student population has increased by 42 percent over the past seven years and is expected to swell by 20 percent over the next six years, according to a demographic study done in March. To avoid overcrowding, more classrooms need to be added to each of the district's seven campuses, according to an expansion plan the school board is scheduled to review Wednesday.

"We recently added 28 classrooms, so the community might feel, 'Didn't we just do this?' and the answer is, 'Yes,' but we continue to be a very popular destination for families with school-aged children," Superintendent Michael Milliken told The Daily News in a phone interview Monday.

A bond measure needs a 55 percent majority to pass. Last month, San Mateo-based Godbe Research conducted telephone surveys of 15,132 likely voters and found that 66 percent were willing to pay $18 per $100,000 of assessed property value per year, generating about $50 million for the district.

More respondents were willing to support a lower tax rate. About 68 percent said they would support one at $15 that would bring in $40.5 million, 71.9 percent would support one at $12 that would bring in $31 million, and 71.9 percent would support one at $9 that would bring in $22.5 million.

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The district will need at least $35 million and possibly $40 million to accommodate the projected student population growth, Milliken said. The increase of 20 percent, or 730 students, is a moderate outlook. But it could range as high as 40 percent, according to Lapkoff & Gobalet Demographic Research Inc.

"There's a possibility we'll get more students than the medium projection provides for," said Milliken.

District staff has also suggested spending some of the bond proceeds on new technology, an artificial turf field and track at Ralston Middle School, new classroom furniture and upgrades to portables in use at some campuses.

According to polling done by Godbe Research, voter support for a $40 million bond measure dipped to 65.4 percent for a November 2015 election and rose to 68.5 percent for a November 2016 election.

The board has until Aug. 8 to place a measure on the November 2014 ballot. The decision will likely hinge on the volunteer effort needed to secure voter support and "fatigue" that may exist in the community, which renewed a parcel tax last year and approved two measures totaling $60 million in 2010, according to Milliken.

If the board doesn't move forward with a measure, the district could tap a $4.5 million capital facilities fund to lease temporary classrooms as a short-term solution, Milliken said. The district could also borrow money to begin work on permanent classrooms and seek a measure in future years to pay off the debt.